Apparatus for wrapping elongate cylindrical objects

ABSTRACT

The cylindrical object is covered with a strip of sheet material having a width less than the length of the object and is applied by rotating the object while feeding the sheet material at a right angle to the rotational axis of the object to provide convolute windings around opposite end portions of the object and guiding the sheet material in angular relationship to the rotational axis of the object to provide spiral windings around the medial portion of the object. A pair of rolls support and rotate the object while the sheet material is fed from a carriage which moves along a path of travel parallel to the drive rolls and the angular position of the carriage is varied to thereby change the relationship between the rotational axis of the supply roll and the rotational axis of the object so as to permit both convolute and spiral windings to be applied to the object.

United States Patent [191 Edwards et al.

[ APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING ELONGATE CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS [75] Inventors: John M. Edwards, Charlotte, N.C.; James D. Wright, Berkley Heights, NJ.

[73] Assignee: John Edwards and Associates, Inc.,

Charlotte, N.C.

[22] Filed: May 14, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 360,156

[52] US. Cl. 53/211, 93/77 R [51] Int. Cl B65b 11/04 [58] Field of Search 53/210, 211, 214, 184; 93/77 R, 80; 83/171; 198/127 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,106,018 l/l938 Raiche 156/495 X 2,716,315 8/1955 Jacoby 93/80 X 3,173,554 3/1965 Ebbert 198/127 X 3,177,748 4/1965 Rosenthal 83/171 3,191,289 6/1965 Fleischer 93/80 X 3,191,356 6/1965 Zelnick 53/182 3,342,014 9/1967 Prager 53/214 3,549,077 12/1970 Huck. 93/80 X 3,643,397 2/1972 Bahnsen 53/182 X Feb. 4, 1975 3,788,199 l/l974 Sato 93/80 Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGehee Assistant Examiner-John Sipos Attorney, Agent, or FirmParrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson [57] ABSTRACT the medial portion of the object. A pair of rolls support and rotate the object while the sheet material is fed from a carriage which moves along a path of travel parallel to the drive rolls and the angular position of the carriage is varied to thereby change the relationship between the rotational axis of the supply roll and the rotational axis of the object so as to permit both convolute and spiral windings to be applied to the object.

13 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENIEU FEB 41975 SHEET 10F 3 PATENTEU FEB 41975 sum anr 3 APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING ELONGATE CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS This invention relates generally to an apparatus for wrapping elongate objects and more particularly to the application of both convolute and spiral wrappings to cylindrical objects with elongate sheet material having a width less than the length of the object.

Most elongate objects, such as rolls of carpet, woven and knitted fabric and the like are presently covered with convolute windings of paper or with a single covering of thermoplastic film which encloses the object and is heat sealed along one side and at opposite ends. Apparatus for covering elongate objects which is presently available uses a particular width of paper or film in covering elongate objects of a particular diameter and length. Thus, a different width of paper or film must be used for each different length of cylindrical object to be covered. I

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for wrapping cylindrical objects which permits the use of a strip of sheet material of a particular width in wrapping a large range of different size cylindrical objects having various diameters and lengths.

In accordance with the present invention, elongate sheet material having, a width less than the length of the object is fed to the rotating objectto form convolute windings around opposite end portions and to form spiral windings around the medial portion of the object. A pair of spaced apart rolls support and rotate the object while the sheet material is withdrawn from a supply roll supported on a carriage which is moved along a path of travel parallel to the cylindrical object. The angular position of the carriage and the supply roll is controlled to vary the angular relationship between the rotational axis of the supply roll and the rotationalaxis of the object being covered so that convolute windings and spiral windings may be'selectivelyapplied to the object being wrapped. The sheet material preferably used is in the form of a heat shrinkableand heat settable film so that the wrapped cylindrical objectmay be moved into a heat tunnel and the wrapping material will shrink into tight engagement with the object and the overlapping portions of the windings are heat sealed'together to form a package completely enclosing and protecting the cylindrical object from moisture, dirt and the like. The completed package provides adequate protection 'of the cylindrical object during handling, shipping, storage and the like.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wrapping apparatus and illustrating a portion of a heat shrinking and sealing tunnel positioned at one end of the wrapping apparatus for receiving the coveredcylindrical object;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary end elevational view looking at the right-hand end of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2 and with the supply roll carriage being positioned at a right angle to the cylindrical object;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the supply roll carriage and the drive rolls for the cylindrical object and illustrating the sheet material being fed to and wound on the cylindrical object;

FIGS is a fragmentary plan view, with parts broken away, of the supply roll carriage and illustrating the support plate therefore;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view taken substantially along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line-88 in FIG. 2 and with the cylindrical object being removed;

FIGS. 9-11 are schematic plan views illustrating the movement of the carriagedurin g the successive steps carried out in wrapping a cylindrical'object;

FIG. 12 is another schematic view illustrating the movement of the carriage when'providing a double spiral wrap on the medial portion of the cylindrical object;

FIG. 13 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 13*13 in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 14 is another schematic view illustrating the manner in which opposite side portions of the sheet material may be heated to shrink the same and prevent accumulation of excess sheet material when beginning and completing the spiral wrapping of the medial portion of the cylindrical object.

I The apparatus of the present invention is'particularly adapted for covering various types of elongate cylindrical objects .and may utilize any type of elongate sheet material having a width less than the length of the object to be wrapped. The present apparatus will be described for use in wrapping rolls of textile material, such as carpet, knit and woven fabrics and the elongate sheet material is preferably of the heat shrinkable and heat settable type of thermoplastic film. I

The apparatus includes an elongate A-frame, broadly indicated at"l0:, which is preferably supported on rollers'll for ease of mobility. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the frame'10 is formed of end frame members 12 and 13 and intermediate frame members 14 spaced therebetween. An upper longitudinal frame member 15 extends from one end frame to the other (FIGS. 4, 8 and 13) and supports the upper ends of the intermediate frames 14. End bearing blocks 16, 17 (FIG: 8) are fixed on the end frames 12,13 and rotatably supportopposite ends of a pair'o'f drive rolls 18, 19. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the distance betweenthe rolls 18, 19 is less than the diameter of the cylindrical object 20 to be wrapped so that the object is supported between and on the rolls 18, 19.

Means is provided for driving at least one of the rolls l8, 19 to impart rotation to object 20 while it is supported on the rolls and includes a variable speed electric drive motor 21 (FIG. 13) which is drivingly connected by a drive belt 22 to a first jack shaft 23. A drive belt 24 imparts rotation from the jack shaft 23 to a second'jack shaft 25. Drive belts 26 and 27 impart rotation from the jack shafts 23, 25 to the rolls 18, 19. Conveyor means is supported between the pair of rolls 18, l9-and includes a longitudinally extending channel frame 30 rotatably supporting a plurality of spaced apart conveyor rollers 31.

Means is provided for moving the-conveyor rollers 31 object is supported between and on the pair of rolls 18, 19. The conveyor raising and lowering means includes spaced apart air cylinders 32 (FIG. 8) which are supported on the longitudinal frame member and have upwardly extending piston rods 32a which are fixed at their upper ends to the channel frame 30. Air supply lines are connected at one end to each of the air cylinders 32 and their other ends are connected to a main air supply manifold 33 (FIG. 1) which enters one end of the end frame 12 and extends along the length of the frame 10. Air under pressure is supplied to the manifold 33 through an air supply line 34 extending from any suitable source of air pressure, not shown.

When the conveyor rollers 31 are raised to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 4, the cylindrical object may be moved longitudinally into the proper position between and spaced above the rolls l8, 19. The conveyor rollers 31 are then lowered so that the cylindrical object is supported between and on the rolls 18, 19. After the wrapping operation is completed, the conveyor rollers 31 may be again raised and the covered cylindrical object can then be easily moved longitudinally above the rolls l8, l9 and into a conventional type of heat tunnel, indicated at in FIG. 1. There are any number of different types of heat tunnels which may be employed for supplying sufficient heat to shrink the wrapping and to seal the overlapping portion of the wrapping together so as to form a tight package completely enclosing the cylindrical object. The heat tunnel 40 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a conveyor 41 which moves the object into and through the heat tunnel 40.

Carriage means is provided for supporting a supply roll 42 of elongate sheet material. This sheet material is preferably in the form of a thermoplastic film, indicated at F. It has been found that a film which is 30 inches wide will satisfactorily cover most lengths and diameters of rolled material. The carriage means includes a pivot plate 45 which is pivoted intermediate its ends by a pivot pin 46 and is supported for pivotal swinging movement on a semicircular support plate 47 (FIG. 5). Upstanding end walls 50, 51 are provided at opposite ends of the pivot plate 45 and rotatably support a pair of rubber covered rolls 52, 53 which rotatably support the film supply roll 42. Adjustable spacer collars 54, 55 (FIG. 2) are fixed on the rubber covered roll 52 and maintain the supply roll 42 in the proper position.

The film F is guided from the supply roll 42 and passes between a pair of nip rolls 56, 57 (FIG. 4) which are rotatably supported at opposite ends in the end walls 50, 51. An electromagnetic brake 60 is provided on the end of the upper nip roll 56 (FIG. 5) so that the amount of pressure required to withdraw the film from the supply roll 42 may be varied and to thereby wrap the film about the object with the desired degree of tension. A suitable control is provided on a control panel 61 for varying the amount of braking action applied by the electromagnetic clutch 60.

Film cutting means in the form of a heated electrical resistance wire 63 is supported at opposite ends in support arms 64, 65 which are attached at their lower ends to a control shaft 66 (FIG. 4). The control shaft 66 is supported for oscillation in bearings on the end plates 50, 51 and the upper end of a control arm 70 is fixed to a medial portion thereof. The end of the piston rod of a pneumatic cylinder 72 is connected to the lower end of the control arm 70 and the operation of the cylinder 72 is controlled by a suitable control on the control panel 61. A U-shaped channel 74 (FIG. 4) is supported beneath the film F so that when the heated electrical resistance wire 63 is lowered, the wire will pass through and sever the film F.

Drive means is provided for moving the carriage along a path oftravel parallel to the pair of rolls l8, l9 and includes pairs of spaced apart bearings 75, 76 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which are fixed to the lower surface of the support plate 47 and ride on spaced apart tracks in the form of rods 77, 78. The track rods 77, 78 are supported in spaced relationship on support brackets 80 which are in turn fixed on channel members 81, 82. A reversible and variable speed electric drive motor 83 is supported between the track rods 77, 78 and includes a drive sprocket 84 which is engaged by a drive chain 85. Opposite ends of the drive chain 85 are fixed to the lower surface of the support plate 47 and a sprocket 86 is rotatably supported at the left-hand end of the wrapping apparatus (FIG. 2) and engages the drive chain 85. As the direction and speed of the reversible electric motor 83 is controlled from the control panel 61, the support plate 47 and the film supply roll support carriage is moved along the track rods 77, 78 and parallel to the cylindrical object being wrapped.

Control means is provided for varying the angular position of the carriage and the pivot plate 45 to thereby change the angular relationship between the rotational axis of the supply roll 42 and the rotational axis of the object 20 being wrapped so that at times convolute windings may be formed as schematically illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11, and at other times spiral windings may be formed, as schematically illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 12. The control means includes a series of circularly arranged holes 90 which are formed in the support plate 47 and a drive gear 91 engaging the holes 90 and being driven by a reversible electric motor 92 which is controlled from a suitable control on the control panel 61. Thus, by rotating the gear 91 the pivot plate 45 may be moved in'either direction from that shown in FIG. 5, relative to the support plate 47.

The support plate 47 is preferably semicircular, as illustrated in FIG. 5, and the outer edge portion is provided with a bearing surface formed by a raised rim or ridge 89 of a friction reducing material for supporting the pivot plate 45 as it is pivoted from one position to another. Limit switches 93, 94 are supported on the support plate 47 (FIG. 5) and are engaged by the pivot plate 45 as it moves to the extreme limits in either direction so that the pivot plate 45 may not be moved beyond a predetermined position. Also, it is preferred that limit switches 95, 96 (FIG. 2) be provided adjacent opposite ends of the track rods 77, 78 so that the support plate 47 will engage these switches and prevent movement beyond these positions.

As a safety feature, a light beam producing head 100 is supported adjacent the end frame 13 and an electric eye element 101 is supported on the rear portion of the control panel 61 (FIG. 2). This safety feature is provided so that the apparatus will stop operating should the operator or some other object move too close to the drive roll 19. In this event, the light beam will be broken and the machine will stop.

As is schematically illustrated in FIG. 14, means is provided for selectively heating opposite side portions of the film F, for purposes to be presently described. This film heating means is illustrated as heated air blowers 105, 106 which are suitably supported on the end plates 50, 51 of the supply roll support carriage.

METHOD OF OPERATION wound onto the package. The air heater 105, 106 may be individually controlled from the control panel 61 or they may be connected to the circuit of the reversible drive motor 92 to operate automatically with pivoting As schematically illustrated in FIG. 9, the cylindrical 5 movement of the pivot plate 45.

object 20 to be wrapped is placed in the proper position on the pair of drive rolls l8, l9 and the film F is fed beneath and around the object 20 while it is rotated. The carriage is maintained in a stationary position to guide the film at a right angle to the rotational axis of the object and to provide at least one convolute winding around this one end portion of the object. As the carriage begins to move in a path of travel parallel with the object 20, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the angular position of the carriage is changed so that the film is guided in angular relationship to the rotational axis of the object to provide spiral windings around the medial portion of the object.

When the spiral windings have been completed to the opposite end of the object, as illustrated in FIG. 1], parallel movement of the carriage is terminated and the carriage is again moved back to a position with the supply roll at a right angle to the rotating object being wrapped to provide one or more convolute windings around this other end portion of the object. The film is then cut by actuating the cylinder 72 to lower the heat resistance wire 63. The portions of the film extending over opposite ends of the object 20 are folded inwardly and the conveyor rollers 31 are raised so that the covered object may then be longitudinally moved into the heat shrinking tunnel 40 to complete the shrinking of the film and the heat sealing of the overlapping portions of the wrapped package.

If it is desired to provide a double spiral wrap on the medial portion of the package, the pivot plate 45 will be merely rotated to the position shown in FIG. 12 and the carriage will be moved back down the track rods 77, 78 so that spiral windings will be formed in a reverse direction from the direction of the initial spiral windings, as illustrated in FIG. 10, and the second spiral windings are formed over the first spiral windings. The carriage will then be moved back to the position shown in FIG. 9 to form one or more convolute windings at this end of the object before the film is cut.

Also, varying degrees of coverage of the object may be obtained by varying the speed of travel of the carriage and the angle at which the film is fed to the rotating object. Multiple or substantially single film layers may be provided by feeding the film at selected angles relative to the axis of rotation of the object.

When changing from a convolute winding to a spiral winding and when changing from the spiral winding to the convolute winding, as illustrated in FIGS. 9-11, there is a tendency for excess film to be formed on one side portion and to be wrapped around the package. The film shrinking heaters 105, 106 illustrated in FIG. 14 are provided to reduce or eliminate this excess film. As the carriage changes from the straight position shown in FIG. 9 to the angular position shown in FIG. 10, the heater 106 will be turned on to direct heated air onto the left-hand side edge portion of the film and shrink the same, thereby preventing excess film from being wound onto the package. As the carriage moves from the angular position shown in FIG. to the straight position shown in FIG. 11, the heater 105 will be turned on to shrink the right-hand side edge portion of the film, thereby preventing excess film from being In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

That which is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for covering elongate cylindrical objects with elongate sheet material having a width less than the length of said object, said apparatus comprismg a. a pair of rolls supported for rotation in spaced apart position with the distance therebetween being less than the diameter of said object'so that said object may be supported between and on said rolls,

b. means for driving at least one of said rolls to impart rotation to said object while it is supported on said rolls,

c. carriage means supporting a supply roll of said elongate sheet material adjacent one side of said pair of rolls,

d. drive means for moving said carriage along a path of travel parallel to said pair of rolls, and

e. control means for varying the angular position of said carriage during movement of said carriage by said drive means to thereby change the angular relationship between the rotational axis of said supply roll and the rotational axis of said object and to form convolute windings of the sheet material at opposite ends of said object with overlapping spiral windings in the medial portion of said object.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 including f. conveyor means supported-between said pair of rolls, and

g. means for moving said conveyor means between a raised operative position where said cylindrical ob ject is maintained out of engagement with said pair of rolls so that said cylindrical object may be moved in a longitudinal direction and a lowered inoperative position where said cylindrical object is supported between and on said pair of rolls.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said conveying means (f) comprises a plurality of spaced apart conveyor rollers.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said conveyor rollers are supported in a longitudinal frame extending between said pair of rolls and wherein said means (g) comprises air cylinders operatively connected to said frame and being operable to raise and lower said conveyor rollers.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said carriage means comprises track means extending parallel to said pair of rolls (a) and spaced therefrom, a support plate supported for movement along said track means and a pivot plate supported for pivotal movement on said support plate.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said pivot plate is pivoted intermediate its ends on said support plate so that it may be pivoted in opposed angular relationship to the rotational axis of said pair of rolls.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said pivot plate supports a pair of support rolls for said supply roll, and a pair of nip rolls through which the elongate sheet material passes as it is withdrawn from said supply roll.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein adjustable brake means is provided for said nip rolls to vary the amount of force necessary to withdrawn the elongate sheet material from said supply roll.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said brake means comprises an electromagnetic brake operatively associated with at least one of said nip rolls.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1 including means for cutting said elongate sheet material between said supply roll and said object.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said sheet material cutting means comprises an electrical resistance wire supported on said pivot plate and normally disposed above the level of the sheet material as it moves from said nip rolls to said object, and including means for moving said electrical resistance wire transversely of and through the sheet material to cut the same at the end of a covering operation.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said drive means (d) includes a reversible electric motor, a drive chain operatively connected to said reversible electric motor and extending between said track means, and means drivingly connecting said drive chain to said support plate for moving the same along said tract means, depending upon the direction of rotation of said reversible motor.

13. A machine according to claim 12 wherein said control means (e) comprises gear means carried by said support plate, a drive gear carried by said pivot plate and engaging said gear means, and a reversible electric motor drivingly connected to said drive gear for selectively rotating the same and imparting pivotal movement of said pivot plate relative to said support plate. 

1. An apparatus for covering elongate cylindrical objects with elongate sheet material having a width less than the length of said object, said apparatus comprising a. a pair of rolls suppoRted for rotation in spaced apart position with the distance therebetween being less than the diameter of said object so that said object may be supported between and on said rolls, b. means for driving at least one of said rolls to impart rotation to said object while it is supported on said rolls, c. carriage means supporting a supply roll of said elongate sheet material adjacent one side of said pair of rolls, d. drive means for moving said carriage along a path of travel parallel to said pair of rolls, and e. control means for varying the angular position of said carriage during movement of said carriage by said drive means to thereby change the angular relationship between the rotational axis of said supply roll and the rotational axis of said object and to form convolute windings of the sheet material at opposite ends of said object with overlapping spiral windings in the medial portion of said object.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 including f. conveyor means supported between said pair of rolls, and g. means for moving said conveyor means between a raised operative position where said cylindrical object is maintained out of engagement with said pair of rolls so that said cylindrical object may be moved in a longitudinal direction and a lowered inoperative position where said cylindrical object is supported between and on said pair of rolls.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said conveying means (f) comprises a plurality of spaced apart conveyor rollers.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said conveyor rollers are supported in a longitudinal frame extending between said pair of rolls and wherein said means (g) comprises air cylinders operatively connected to said frame and being operable to raise and lower said conveyor rollers.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said carriage means comprises track means extending parallel to said pair of rolls (a) and spaced therefrom, a support plate supported for movement along said track means and a pivot plate supported for pivotal movement on said support plate.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said pivot plate is pivoted intermediate its ends on said support plate so that it may be pivoted in opposed angular relationship to the rotational axis of said pair of rolls.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said pivot plate supports a pair of support rolls for said supply roll, and a pair of nip rolls through which the elongate sheet material passes as it is withdrawn from said supply roll.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein adjustable brake means is provided for said nip rolls to vary the amount of force necessary to withdrawn the elongate sheet material from said supply roll.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said brake means comprises an electromagnetic brake operatively associated with at least one of said nip rolls.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 1 including means for cutting said elongate sheet material between said supply roll and said object.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said sheet material cutting means comprises an electrical resistance wire supported on said pivot plate and normally disposed above the level of the sheet material as it moves from said nip rolls to said object, and including means for moving said electrical resistance wire transversely of and through the sheet material to cut the same at the end of a covering operation.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said drive means (d) includes a reversible electric motor, a drive chain operatively connected to said reversible electric motor and extending between said track means, and means drivingly connecting said drive chain to said support plate for moving the same along said tract means, depending upon the direction of rotation of said reversible motor.
 13. A machine according to claim 12 wherein said control means (e) comprises gear means carried by said support platE, a drive gear carried by said pivot plate and engaging said gear means, and a reversible electric motor drivingly connected to said drive gear for selectively rotating the same and imparting pivotal movement of said pivot plate relative to said support plate. 